As a consequence of the decision made on Sunday 28^th January 2001 by the Public Meeting in the Village Hall, and the formation of a Working Party to investigate the feasibility of establishing an alternative business in the village to that which was proposed to close on 31^st March 2001, the first meeting of a private company, Hyde Heath Village Store Limited took place on 26^th March 2001. Ray Challinor (Chairman) Ruth Coulton, Nell Neale and Chris Sargeant were appointed directors. The new business commenced operations on Monday 2^nd April 2002 in a hired Rovacabin, which was located on Hyde Heath Village Hall Car Park.

In the ensuing months the search for more permanent premises continued and in due course an informal agreement was reached with the Management Committee of the Village Hall, which proposed to construct an extension to the Village Hall and to incorporate therein accommodation for a shop. Planning consent was sought and approved and work commenced in late August 2002 with a completion date of the end of November 2002, now expected to be February 2003.

During the occupancy of the Village Hall site, the shop was subject to a burglary (March 2002), which resulted in theft of stock and damage to the building, which after receipt of insurance monies cost the business a net £723.07.

In August 2002, to assist the building programme, the Rovacabin was relocated to a site on the Common with support from St Andrews Church and the School, and by kind permission of Bill Franklin.

As regards trading, after initial modest losses, sales quickly reached break-even level and by the end of April 2001, modest profits were being made. These have continued to date and although sales have reduced since re-location of premises in August 2002, the business continues to at least break even with modest profits most weeks.

In recent weeks, the initial private company resolved to convert to an Industrial & Provident Society, to be known as The Hyde Heath Village Shop Limited and this has given an opportunity for the whole village to benefit from future trading success and also for individual villagers to become members of the Association and thereby contribute to the well being of the business,

Discussions took place with a range of suppliers and shop fitters, which enabled us to submit a budget for fitting out the new shop to the Countryside Agency ("CA"), Little Missenden Parish Council ("LMPC") and Bucks County Council ("BCC"). Grant support has been forthcoming to the extent of £14,000 (CA), £2000 (LMPC) and £1,500 (BCC). Grant monies together with retained cash surpluses from trading should be sufficient to meet anticipated costs of fitting out the new shop and to provide some increase in working capital as a consequence of the expected higher levels of stocking to be maintained in the new shop.

Assuming trading levels continue to generate surpluses once we have settled into the new shop, it is hoped to commence a programme of repayment to the unsecured loans received from 143 villagers without whom the project could not have proceeded.

The Management Committee is pleased and proud to present this its first report, and wish to place on record its grateful thanks to the very many people in the village who have helped with the enterprise, too numerous to mention by name but including, the staff, some of whom work on a voluntary basis, the loan note holders and most importantly the customers of the shop.

In conclusion, the Committee ask for your continued support for the next crucial period, which is expected to culminate in continued successful trading in new shop premises of which we are sure we will all be justly proud.

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